Journal-box dust-guard.



PATENTED DEG. 26, 1905.

U L E Tl. P.. S N A M L G, 2 9 2. O0 0 00 nw vN JOURNAL BOX DUST GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY e. 1905.

2 SHEBTS-SHEBT l.

No. 808,292. PATBNTED DBC. 26, 1905.

G. L. MANSFIELD.

JOURNAL BOX DUST GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lill/11111 Ill/IIIA 'IIA UNITED STATES GEORGE L. MANSFIELD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

JOURNAL-BOX DUST-GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented nec. 2e, 1905.

Application filed July 6, 1905. Serial No. 268,329.

To ftZZ whom, it mftg/ concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. MANsFIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Journal-Box Dust-Guard, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to dust-giiards for joiirnal-boxes. These devices are used to exclude dust from journal-boxes, the same occupying the opening in the inner end of the journal-box, through which the journal enters said box.

My invention has special reference to improvements in diist-guards of that class which, because adapted to take up their own wear, are known as adjustable dustguards.

The object of my invention is to provide a substantially rectangular dust-guard containing a journal-opening and which shall be composed of sections adapted to press upon or about a car-axle journal.

The particular object of my invention is to provide a dust-guard of the class mentioned that shall be composed of two sets of transversely-related sections, so arranged that they may be readily expanded and placed upon a journal and will thereafter automatically contract about the journal to maintain a tight joint therewith at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for connecting the transversely-related sections of a dustguard -with a view to providing a dust-guard wherein one set of sections shall when expanded be capable of moving the sections of the other set.

My invention consists generally in a dustguard comprising, in combination, a plurality of incasing members suitably connected and constituting the body of the dust-guard, a plurality of other sections incased within the iirst-mentioned sections, the incasing and incased sections being movable transversely and together containing an axle-opening, and 50l a plurality of struts or links movably connecting the incasing and incased sections and adapted to communicate the movement of the sections of one of the sets to the sections ofthe other set, whereby the expansion and contraction of the guard as a whole is fa- Oilitated and insured and whereby the several sections are adapted to bear upon a journal with uniform pressure and, further, my invention consists in various details of construction and in combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a dustguard embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the dust-guard, like unto Fig. l,

but with the side plates of the incasing sections removed to disclose the incased sections. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the dust-guard expanded upon a journal.. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating a modification. of the form of the links used to connect the incasing and incased sections of the guard. Fig. 5 is another detail view showing one of the links illustrated in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 shows a guard of modified form wherein the sections are divided or separated upon a diagonal line.

As shown in the drawings, my dust-guard is preferably composed of four principal members, with minor parts associated with and connecting them. Two of the principal parts are the incasing sections A A, and the remaining two are the incased sections B B. I prefer that the incasing sections shall meet on a line parallel with their longer edges and that each section shall comprise two side plates 2 2 and a mid-strip 3. One of the incasing sections is further equipped with two guide-bars 4 4, secured thereto by nails 5 5 and extending across the top and bottom of the other incasing section between the side plates thereof. Obviously one of the bars may bel attached to each section A A instead of both being attached to one of said sections The arrangement is such that the sections A A may be separated against. the tension of the springs 6 6, which connect said sections, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Suitable stops 4 and 3', provided upon or in the bars 4 and the section A, limit the outward movement of the sections A A, permitting such movement only to the extent required to admit a journal in the opening formed within the assembled sections. I prefer to completely inclose the guard by anl edging 7, tacked or otherwise secured to the edges of the guard and having fullness 7 at top and bottom to IOO permit the expansion of the guard. If desired, this edging may be relied upon to prel vent undue separation of the sections A A, in which case the stops 3 4 may be dispensed with. The edging 7 is made Jfrom a i'lexible fabric and is wider than the edge of the guard, and its oHice is to close the cracks between the sides of the guard and the walls of the dust-guard pocket in the ournal-box wherein the guard is used. The sections B B extend transversely of the sections A A and are arranged within the rectangular recess within the body of the guard-t'. e., the sections A A. As will be seen, these sections B extend across and close the openings existing between the meeting edges of the sections A Al when said sections are expanded, as shown in Fig. 3. Beciprocally the solid sides 2 of the sections A A close the openings between the inner ends of the sections B B under like circumstances. To avoid duplicating the springs 6 by placing such springs upon the sections BB and also to avoid the annoyance that would attend the simultaneous manipulation of independently connected sets of sections, I so construct my guard that the springs 6, which press the sections A A together, also serve to close the sections B B. I prefer to carry out this feature of my invention by means of short links or pivotal struts S, which I arrange between the ends of the sections B B and the mid-strip 3 of the sections A A. These links may be of various forms. The most simple form is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the parts B and 3 are provided with small pockets 9 to receive the rounded ends of the links 8. The links normally-that is, when the sections are collapsedoccupy acute angled relation to the vertical edges of the guard, and being under tension of the springs, communicated through the sections A A', the 'four links (see Fig. 2) operate to force the sections B B together. At such times the openings within the pairs of sections are non-circular; but when outward pressure is exerted upon the inner peripheries of the sections B B and said sections are separated the links will operate to drive the incasing sections outward in a direction transverse to the movement of the sections B B, as represented in Fig. 3. The springs 6 6 exert tension upon all of the members of the guard thus connected by pivotal struts or links, and it is obvious that when the sections have been expanded or distended to admit a journal they will thereafter press iirmly upon said journal and make a tight joint therewith, el'lectually excluding dust Jfrom the journal-box. When the guard is distended upon a journal, the links occupy angles of substantially fortyve degrees with relation to the meeting edges o? the pairs of sections and in this condition will uniformly distribute the tension of the springs upon all of the sections, thus insuring uniform wear in the parts. The

links of Fig. 2 abut the parts which they operatively connect, but are not otherwise pivotally connected therewith, and to prevent possible displacement of the sections B B within the sections A A at times when the guard is not in service and when the sections A A are arbitrarily drawn apart I provide the sections B B and A A with stop-shoulders 10 and 11, upon which the sections B may fall or close when no longer supported by the links. I have not found this precaution ol' great importance, however, as the links themselves cannot escape from the pockets in the sections when the incasing sections are separated, and therefore prevent any such displacement or contortion of the sections as would render them inoperative. This seeming though not actual objection to the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be avoided and a distinct advantage gained by pivotally pinning the ends of the links upon the incasing and incased sections, as shown by 8a in Fig. 3. In this instance the ends of the links 8L are made to straddle portions ol' the parts B and 3 and are actually attached thereto by pins 12. The advantage gained in this construction is that the sections B will automatically respond to the separation of the sections AA, and vice versa, whereas in the case of Fig. 2 the sections A A cannot operate to positively separate the sections B B and distend the opening between them. The same advantages attach to a guard wherein the wooden links or short blocks 8 are replaced by wire, staplelike links 8 having their legs or points driven into the sections B B and the mid-bars 3 of the outer sections, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The two kinds of links may be brieiiy difierentiated by terming those of Fig. 2 as links for pressure only7 and those of Figs. 3, 4, and 5 as pressure and tension links,7 the latter serving the dual oiice of struts and draft members.

Obviously this dust-guard, which is made of transversely -positioned sections, connected only by springs and pivotal links, may, so to speak, be divided upon any diameter. This I have exemplified in Fig. 6, wherein the incasing members are of triangular form and have diagonal meeting edges, the same design being carried out in the internal or incased members. In this case I dispense with the guides between the incasing members Aa, as the greater length of the incased members B@L aiiords requisite rigidity without recourse to other guiding means. The principal igures of the drawings show the body of the guard divided upon a vertical line; but it should be understood that the guard, particularly as constructed in Fig. 3, may be divided upon a horizontal line, and thus p0- sitioned in the journal-box.

I am aware that in ordinary acceptance the term link conveys the meaning or IIO to mean and dei-ine both-that is, either form y ofthe link device.

Having thus described my invention, I

, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a dust-guard, incasing members containing a journalopening, in combination with incased members therein and provided with a corresponding journal-opening, means pressing said members toward a common center, and links angularly interposed between the incasing and incased members, substantially as described.

2. In a dust-guard, incasing members containing a journal-opening and guided one upon the other, in combination with members incased therein and having a corresponding journalopening, means pressing said members toward a common center and permitting the expansion thereof, and means angularly and pivotally connecting each incased sectionA with both incasing sections,

1substantially as and for the purpose speci- 3. In a dust-guard, a plurality of relatively distensible sections forming the body of the guard, and together containing a journalopening, in combination with a second plurality of sections together containing a corresponding journal-opening, said second plurality of sections being arranged for movement transverse to the movement ofthe iirstmentioned sections, links arranged to impart the movement of the sections of one set to those ofthe other set, and means pressing said sections toward a common center, substantially as described.

4. In a dust-guard, a pair of incasing sections, together containing a journal-opening, in combination with a pair of incased sections containing a corresponding opening and arranged at right angles to the incasing section, and swinging pressure-communicating de- Vices interposed between the incasing and incased sections and adapted to communicate the movement of the incased sections to the incasing sections to separate the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a dust-guard, a pair of incasing sections containing a journal-opening, in combination with a pair of incased sections also containing a journal-opening and arranged at right angles to the incasing sections, and links arranged within said incasing sections and pivotally connecting thesame with the incased sections for reciprocal movement, and suitable means pressing said sections toward a common center, substantially as described.

6. In a dust-guard, a pair of incasing sections and means pressing the same together, in combination with other sections incased by the first-mentioned sections, said sections together containing a journal-opening, and links pivoted upon the ends of the incased sections and upon the adjacent portions of the incasing sections, respectively and thereb adapted to communicate the movement oiVy either pair of sections to the other pair, substantially as described.

7. In a dust-guard, incasing sections, containing a journal-opening and each comprising side plates and a mid-bar, in combination with means whereby said sections are movably alined, incased sections arranged between thesides of the incasing sections, at right angles to said incasing sections and containing a journal-opening, springs connecting the incasing sections and links angularly positioned between said mid-strips and the incased sections and pivotally connecting the sections, substantially as described.

8. In a dust-guard, a pair of incasing sections containing a journalopening, in combination with incased sections, and interoperating devices occupying angular positions between said incasing and said incased sections and adapted to communicate the movement of one pair of sectionsto the other pair, substantially as described.

9. A dust-guard comprising a plurality of relatively distensible sections together containing a normally non circular opening, means pressing said members toward a common center and permitting extension thereof and angularly-disposed links interposed between said sections whereby the outer movement of either pair thereof is communicated to the other sections, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 1st day of July, 1905, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE L. MANSFIELD.

Witnesses:

CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, HOWARD S. AUSTIN.

IOC 

